Announcer: The views and opinions expressed in to the point are those of the host of the program and its guests.

They do not necessaril reflect the views or opinions of WGTE Public Media.

Doni: According to the publication best U.S. colleges.

This is a watershed momen for universities across the US, requiring the to think about what they offer, what they charge, and how they operate.

A recent study breaking Down on public opinion of higher education by party affiliation, showed that only half of Americans believ the colleges benefit the nation.

Costs are high.

Faculty is burned out, and the students ar being seduced away by cheaper, seemingly more immediately rewarding options.

What does this mean for universities like our own University of Toledo?

Can they manage the challenges causing the closure of an increasing number of universities nationwide?

Interim president of the University of Toledo, Matt Schroeder, is her for this important discussion.

You can connect with us on our social media pages.

And as you know, you may email me doni_miller@wgte.org.

And for this episode and other additional extras, don't hesitate to go to.wgte.org/to the point.

We have with us today, Matt Schroeder, who is the interim president of the University of Toledo.

Delighted to talk to Matt.

There is so many things going on in your part of the world right now.

It makes me wonder, if why you are wanting to focus on, this position with all of the challenges that universities are facing.

Matt: Yeah.

Great question.

And first of all, thank you for having me here today.

Big fan and have watched the show over the years.

So truly a pleasure to be here.

Doni: Oh, thank you so much.

Matt: You know, for those of you that don't know my story, I'm a lifelong Toledo and, a product of Central Catholic University of Toledo grad, Michigan grad, and the University of Toledo has been very near and dear to my heart.

I have personally benefited from an undergrad education there.

My two brothers, my father and many family members.

And so the opportunity that the board has afforded m to step in as interim president.

I truly feel blessed.

As you alluded to i your opening remarks, higher ed and that evolving landscape, is very, turbulent right now.

And many young people are questioning the value of an undergraduate or just a degree in general.

And so the opportunity to lead this great university in a time of change, is really special to me.

And I believe that what the University of Toledo has, in terms of our academic offerings and how those offerings connect directly into not only northwest Ohio but the tri state area is very, very important to business and our regional economy.

And I believe that together as a community, we can, make not only this region better, but the University of Toledo better.

Doni: Why don't we start with what your vision is for the university?

I know you've thought about this nonstop.

Matt: I have, and in my mind, a vision statement should be very straightforward and easy to remember.

And, you know, many universities look the same on paper.

However, the University of Toledo is very different given our portfolio of academic programs strong in the health sciences, engineering, health care, but also the academic medical center component.

And so when I think about my vision, which is to be the regional force powering opportunitie to learn, care, work and play, those four buckets tie directly back to what the University of Toledo offers and the rol that we play, in Northwest Ohio so quickly on the learn front.

Learning starts now with college credit plus in high school.

So high school students can take university courses.

An absolute great benefit to keep the cost of higher education down.

But also prepare the for that experience as a direct from high school student.

But learning just does not stop there.

All of us, you, me.

Lifelong learning is so important.

And so we will forever be a resource at all ages of the spectrum to continue to offer that that enhanced learning experience on the campus.

Having an academic medical center here, not only in South Toledo, but in northwest Ohio, is critically important as all of us age.

So to our our physicians and with an agin physician population to attract not only student to join the College of Medicine as part of the inbound cohort, which is about 175 students, but then also 381 residents and fellows that are training at University of Toledo Health or at ProMedica Health System is critically important because data will show us those individuals that wherever they do their residency or fellowship, there is a high probability that they stay.

Which is critically important for an aging population.

The work piece, we are a major, drive of economic development in Ohio.

We talk about producing the talent for the next generation of jobs or workforce.

But also with, the work component, similar to students, employers need to train and continue to educate their employees.

And so we play a critical role in that space.

And then the fourth piece, the play, which I often call is the fun factor.

You look at what Brian Blair and his team have been doing tied to intercollegiate athletics, and the success that our 17 programs now with rowing added, have ha in the Mid-American conference.

We offer young people and really folks of all ages, the opportunity to come onto campus and see intercollegiate athletics and while on campus, learn about other opportunities through science camps, camps and general conferences to continue that lifelong learning, but tear down that barrier or the perception that we're scared or we're apprehensive to come on our campuses because a lot of our students are first gen. A lot of our students are really looking to the university to help guide them and mentor them, and to give them access to what we have to offer at a very young age, create an affinity for the university that often stays near and dear to their heart.

Doni: Well, that's an awful lot of great stuff going on, on, campus.

So to what do you attribute the decline in enrollment?

I mean, you knew that question was.

Matt: Oh, absolutely.

Yeah, absolutely.

It is, the elephant in the room for most conversations.

It is the single most important initiative that we have at the university is to stabilize enrollment.

And so you have a couple factors in play, throughout the country but especially in the Midwest.

And so we'll start with the Midwest, that the marketplace with colleges and universities is crowded.

Right?

There's a lot of competition out there.

And with competition, I believe comes great opportunities.

And so in the state of Ohio, you have Ohio State and Cincinnati that are going to continue to grow exponentially, both becoming one flagship, the other becoming a flagship institution for this great state of Ohio.

And then you have the regional publics like a Toledo, a Kent and Akro and Cleveland State, which play a critical role in terms of educating young people.

Not everybody wants to go to Ohio State.

Not everybody wants to go to Cincinnati.

And so the role that we play is critically important.

But in order to play that role successfully, you really, as an institution have to understand who you are.

What do you do?

Well and how do you differentiate yourself?

And when I look bac over the last ten years or so, yes, the high school population is declining or college going population is declining.

But I view, holistically speaking, the fact that we have 14. million people within 100 miles.

We have a target rich environment to recruit individuals to attend the University of Toledo.

They may not be all direct from high school, adult transfer, international all play a critical role.

So for the university, we are pivoting back to what we do well, which is educating individual within 200 miles or less of camp from campus and getting back to the fundamentals, which will stabiliz and ultimately grow enrollment.

Doni: Even with that being true, though, there are some statistics that I thin are going to give you a battle.

One of those is is the declining number of men, boys, young men going into, a university setting.

I read that, young men nationwide now only represent 41% of the student population, which is fairly amazing considering a decade ag those numbers were not that low.

That people are being, more interested in a tech, environment which is now begu to offer their own certification and start paying in.

I think I right, on averag $60,000 a year pretty quickly, which is real money.

I think $60,000 a year is real money.

What are you going to do to convince them that they should really consider the University of Toledo?

Matt: Yeah, absolutely.

And so you're right on all fronts, and we see it in our numbers, more female students than male students.

We've seen that for a number of years now.

We also see a shift with direct from high school going down to transfer nontraditional students.

If I can take a ste back, just higher ed in general, I think where higher educatio has fallen down over the years is that we as a, as an organization, have focused on budgets and seats.

Let's try and enroll as many students as we can, but in doing so, compromised on the wraparound services so that students can be successful.

So it's just continuing to fil seats, fill seats, fill seats.

And so you have student and employers that have become disenfranchized with the higher education model because the.

Doni: Wraparound.

Matt: Service.

So for example, if we have a young person or a student in general that comes in and needs a little bit of help tied to like comp one or math 1200, that through either tutoring or other services, learning modules, etc., that they feel the support to be successful.

We're not talking about you know, giving away degrees.

The sweat equity is critically important.

But my opinion and my belief is if we're going to enroll a student at the University of Toledo, we have a responsibility to make sur that that student is successful.

And so when a student is out there looking at the trades, looking at an undergraduate degree, it is a tug of war because to your point, $60,000 is a lot of money, especially in northwest Ohio.

And to be able to earn 60,000 within a year or two of graduating high school is quite amazing.

Now, this the long view or the long term play that where we have to do a better job educating those young peopl that, you know, a $60,000 a year job might be great while you're in your early to mid 20s, but some of those jobs can be really hard on your body and take a physical toll.

And therefore, you know, maybe you invest for years, maybe upon graduation you're getting then that $60,000 a year job, but then that compounding in that earnings and we often call i social mobility on what it looks like over a young person's lifetime is very dramatic.

Then, you know, getting getting paid, if you will, right out of high school, versus investing in yourself.

Doni: I'm going to ask you to hold that thought, okay.

We're going to go away for just a second, but you'll stay with me, won't you?

Absolutely.

All righty.

And you will too.

I hope we will be back in just a moment.

To me, community means connecting to others.

And what will it really take to bring peace to Toledo's neighborhoods?

I would send them personally a t shirt.

Crim doesn't pay in the old West End.

Pass it on.

That's how we cleaned.

up the neighborhood.

Bring you back memorie that you don't think are there.

You know.

WGTE public media invites you to get out and play day.

The people of Toledo have really become family.

You know, they walk in and it just like, hey, it's so good to see you.

Hello there, and welcome to a public media town hall meeting.

I love PBS kids.

Doni: Welcome back.

You know, as always, if you can connect with us on our social media pages an please take a moment to email me at doni_miller@wgte.org.

And for this episode and any others you'd like to see, you know, the way there, thats wgte.org/to the point.

If you missed the first portion of this show, please go back and, pull it up on our website.

Great information from the interim president of the University of Toledo, Matt Schroeder.

We're talking about some fairly challenging issues, moving forward to put the university.

I don't want to sa put it back on track, but, but to to make it perhaps more responsive to the challenges that you're facing.

Matt: Yeah.

And I would agree.

And I love the word responsive responsiveness.

It's about meeting our students and meeting the community halfway.

Right.

Everyone's view of what life looks like, whether it's direct from high school or at different phases of life is very different.

And in 2025 and beyond, a university like Toledo, a strong research public university.

It's important that we're able to be nimble and to meet those students on whatever journey and life that they are on.

Doni: How much influence do you think the cost of universities is having on the decline in enrollment?

Matt: I think it plays an important factor, especially when you look at, the typical Toledo student, the median household income.

The average high school GPA, Act test scores.

Our students are very similar to me when I was a student.

Right.

Disposable income, is minimal.

Many of our students work 1 to 2 jobs.

When I was at the University of Toledo, I worked two jobs, to pay for my tuition.

A little assistance in the form of scholarships, but primaril working to pay for my college.

And so a Toledo student is different than a michigan's student.

A state student is Cincinnati student.

And for them it is the value of the degree.

And the way I look at a valu of a degree, it's almost like, you know, an old school stock certificate, right?

That diploma hangs on your wall.

And it's my responsibility, the responsibility of our faculty and staf to make sure that that degree, that diploma only goes up in value incrementally year over year over year.

But the cost or the perception of cost is a great barrier for many students because they hear, you know, the these stories of flagships that are approaching $100,000 a year.

Now, the beauty of the University of Toledo, accessibility, great portfolio of degrees.

And at the end of the day when we look at federal student loans, on average, our students upon graduation have indebtedness around $27,000 or less.

That is.

Doni: Less than the national.

Matt: Average, less than the national average.

Still a significant amount of money, but a doable amoun that can be paid back over time.

Doni: So all of the, the issues are apparent to everyone.

They're not exclusive to the University of Toledo.

You can find them at Ohio State.

You can find them at Bowling Green.

What makes the difference, I think, however, is the approach of the person at the head at the helm.

So what makes you that person at this time?

Yeah.

Matt: So there is a time and a place for every leader.

For me, the perspective that I have had at the university over my career, I've been there 28 years now, and I don't view that as a negative.

I view that as a positive.

So, Great working.

Relationships and then also expertise on the clinical side of the house, the academic side of the house, the operations side of the house.

And so as we talk about repositioning the University of Toledo for our students and for the workforce, knowing what needs to be done and doing that in a collaborative manner, is within my skill set and wheelhouse all day long because there are toug decisions that need to be made.

And we collectively, under m leadership, know what those are.

Versus someone else.

There's probably a little bit of a learning curve.

But then also doing it in a way to where you're trusted and well respecte amongst the faculty, the staff of the University of Toledo, because time is not on our side for higher ed in general.

And to be nimble is very, very difficult on the academi and clinical side of the house.

And to have those relationships, to have that skill set.

Time is the most valuable thing, not only for our students, but for an organization like the University of Toledo that's pivoting.

Doni: Yeah.

You know, one of one of my perceptions, and I've lived in this town longer than I've lived anywhere else.

Is that no matter how hard the university tries, and I think there have been some great efforts, in this direction over the years, there seems to be a bit of a separation between the university and the community at large, and there are other place where you just don't see that.

Matt: Yeah.

Doni Why do you think that is here?

And what are your thoughts about changing that?

Matt: Yeah, we number one, we have to change that.

We are Toledo's university.

We are Northwest Ohio's university.

The amount of research, the expertise on the clinical side of the house, the academic piece.

There is one degree or less of separation between most folks in the University of Toledo.

I think where we have fallen down is that, we take for granted those relationships.

I literally grew up right outside your back door here in South Toledo.

And so I understand the the linkages that the University of Toledo has had over the years, but also needs to have going forward.

And the community engagement piece beyond economic developmen with a number of the nonprofits, the grassroots efforts so critically important for the University of Toledo.

Now, in doing so, you can't be everything to everyone.

Absolutely.

But there are so many local organizations here that we have a tremendous amount of opportunity.

And now to reestablish those relationships, but grow them and grow them in a way where it's mutually beneficial, right.

Connecting in with young people, for example, through the boys and girls Club.

Those connections are so important.

Doni: And where do you start those conversations?

I mean, that's.

Matt: Yeah.

And so that's we have a great team.

Valerie Simpson Walston, Sharon Speier and others are out there.

And they are the star for those relationships, right?

And whether they're existing or new relationships.

And again, it has to be mutually beneficial.

But it starts with the conversation, right.

How can we help you?

How can you help us?

Because it's really a partnership at the end of the day.

Doni: Yeah, yeah, it is the it would seem as though, given the direction of our conversation that you would be interested in, including the community opinions and some of those shaping of your vision.

Matt: Oh, absolutely.

Absolutely.

Again, we are Toledo's university, and the community, broadl defined, can be our neighbors.

It can be the faith based community.

It can be corporations.

It can be nonprofits.

And as we continue to evolve and grow as university, while other universities are closing, right, you see a number of the small privates, not only in Ohio but around the country, are either closing or being acquired.

We need to link directly into our community so that we can meet the needs not only today, but five years from now, ten years from now.

And meeting those need ultimately comes down to making sure that we are graduatin folks, young people and adults that can be highly competitive in the workforce.

But most importantly like our residents and fellows, stay within the tri state area and to contribute back to the economy.

Doni: You know, you said something, very quickly in the first segment of that, if I heard you correctly, about the community having some concern about the safety of the campus, did I know?

Matt: But we can go there.

Yeah, we can go there.

So that is one of the sort of urban legends, if you will, about the university of Toledo, that many folks, they they see us and we are a metropolitan university.

Whether it's the main campus or our health science campus.

Every year, though, we have to report crime and safety data as part of the Cleary Act.

We are one of the safes campuses in the state of Ohio.

The collaboration that we hav with neighborhood organizations, with our campus police department, with Toledo Police Department, is very seamless.

And so when a young person comes on to campus and maybe they're from a rural area, or mayb they're from the city of Toledo and their safety i the number one priority for us.

And some of the things that we've implemented in the last few years to ensure that that safety not only stays consistent, but is elevated, has really gone a long way to create not only a safe campus, but most importantly, a very welcoming and inclusive campus.

Doni: What do you think has been, the most visible and the most effective thing that you've done to ensure safety on campus?

Matt: Yeah, I would, I would argue that what we have done is not visible.

Right.

And a lot of it comes down to and and you see it with Toledo police.

But, the community engagement and community meaning university stakeholders in the surrounding neighborhoods and really being out there proactively.

Here's something, say something.

And to make sure that if you're a student, it doesn't matter where you come from or your background, that whether it's student affairs, University of Toledo police or other senior leaders or administrators that we are accessible, that we will not hold anything against someone if they see something.

But at the end of the day, we have to have a safe and welcoming campu and so I think it's I think it's what you don't see has really gone, the longest.

Doni: And that's such an important point, especially these days.

So we have just about a minute left, but I want to I want to get this out there.

So for people who think that, you know, maybe they didn't do so well in high school and maybe the university is something they are intereste in, but it's just a little bit beyond their reach.

Maybe it's a little bi beyond their reach academically.

It takes all of us.

Don't settle down in high school sufficiently enough to to be considered for college.

And maybe it's a little bit beyond their reach facility.

What would you say to those folks?

Matt: I would say to them, look at the University of Toledo.

We accept 96 97% of the students that apply.

The barrier to entry financially is, is quite affordable.

And I would also say those that started and stopped at the university give us a look, give u consideration comes come back.

And and there are programs that we have, especially if an individual started and then paused because of debt issues or a balance due to the university.

We have a number of programs out there.

Loan forgiveness, etc..

So that we want these student to come back and be successful and not intimidated or carry a burden through life that, oh yeah, I tried it, but I can't.

Right.

Yeah we are here for the community.

Doni: Thank you so muc for spending time with me today.

I know you could have been a million other places.

I appreciate that you're with us.

You.

Thank you as well.

Go out there today, be kind just because you can.

And I will see you next time.

On to the point.

Announcer: The views and opinions expressed in to the point are those of the host of the program and its guests.

They do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of WGTE public media.

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